Normandy had amassed an impressive 280-6 from 50 overs but Oli Roland-Jones’s side, who were runners-up to Wimbledon last year and have not given up the chase this time, put it into context by smashing 100 from their first 10 overs.

Middlesex’s talented left-hander Adam London led the way by stroking 74 from 52 balls. Roland-Jones kept up the momentum with his 100no and then veteran David Nash (52no) – making his first appearance of the season – capped it as Sunbury scored 281-4 to win by six wickets.

Sunbury won with 3.5 overs to spare, Clutterbuck admitting: “Sunbury really are a very good side. We would normally back ourselves to defend 280. Adam London played strokes which made you think he will score an awful lot of first-class runs in his career, Roland-Jones played at just the right tempo and Nash just kept hitting the ball wherever we couldn’t put a fielder.

“You could only be impressed by the way they approached it.”

Sunbury remain 22 points behind Wimbledon, who lost, with three to play.

Despite Richard Oliver's 95 in a total of 235, Reigate Priory suffered a shock defeat at the hands of doomed Camberley by six wickets.

The usually reliable Reigate bowlers could only muster four wickets between them as Camberley surpassed their target with nine balls to spare.